Car-coupling



(No Model.) 2 sheets-shawl.

- S. S. MOKEAND.

'GAR GOUPLING.

No. 404,725. Patented June 4, 1889.

if lll l lliii NITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,725, dated June 4, 1889.

Application filed March 28, 1889- Serial No. 305,162. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMPSON SANDERS MCKEAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oeredo, in the county of \Vayne and State of Vest Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates tocar-couplings; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved car-coupling on the end of a car. Fig. 2 is a plan View of two draw-heads coupled together. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the draw-head, showing the push-bar raised to permit the moving of the coupling-link. Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical sections of the draw-head, showing the manner of operating the device.

In carrying out my invention I secure to the end of the car, near one side of the same, a bracket A, through which the operatinglever B passes. This operating-lever is provided in its upper edge with aseries of three notches C, which are adapted to engage the upper edge of the central opening of the bracket. The outer end of the lever is nor mally pressed upward, so that the notches will be made to engage the bracket by a spring D secured upon an offset E on the end of the ear and having its free end entering the central opening of the bracket and bearing on the lower edge of the lever.

The draw-head Fis secured to and projects from the end of the car, and is provided on its floor with a central longitudinal rib G, the front end of which tapers upward and backward from the lower edge of the mouth of the draw-head, so as to guide the link to the proper position in the draw-head. The rear end of this rib is widened somewhat and forms an abrupt vertical shoulder H, which is engaged by the coupling-link in the operation of the device, and this rear widened portion of the rib has inclined sides, so that the link will have a slight play in rounding curves. The coupling-link J consists of a casting having longitudinal slots K at its ends and having its under side at the ends of the same inclined upward, as shown, so that the link will easily ride over the rib G. The

slots K in the link permit the link to fall into engagement with the rib G, and the end of said slot bears against the vertical shoulder of the said rib, so as to effect the coupling.

The link is held in the draw-head by a transverse sliding frame L, which passes through the draw-head and through a lateral extension M of the same and has its outer end pivoted to the inner end of the lever B, as shown. This sliding frame consists, essentially, of a U-shaped bar having its shoulder pivoted to the end of the operating-lever and having its upper arm playing in the upper portion of the lateral extension M and entering the top of the draw-head, and its lower arm playing in the lower. portion of said lateral extension and projecting from the end of the same below the draw-head. The outer end of the lower arm is provided with an upwardly-inclined upper surface, as shown at N, and with a notch O. The said notch O is adapted to engage the end of the extension M, and thereby limit the movement of the sliding frame, and the said lower arm of said frame is provided with vertical ribs P on its sides at its end, which are also adapted to contact with the end of the extension M to limit the movement of said frame. The upper arm of the sliding frame passes across the top of the draw-head, over the end of the coupling-link,a11d enters a recess or socket Q in the draw-head, so as to be prevented from lateral movement. Vhen this frame is projected inward and across the draw-head, the coupling-link will be held securely in position, as will be readily understood.

In order that the coupling-link may be easily disengaged from the draw-head, I provide the lifting-plate R, which is arranged longitudinally in the draw-head, in rear of the rib G on the bottom of the same, and has the pins S depending from its lower edge through the draw-head on opposite sides of the lower arm of the sliding frame. When the sliding frame is withdrawn, the inclined surface N of the lower arm of said frame will move under the lifting-plate, so as to raise the same and move it against the end of the coupling-link, thereby' elevating the link above the rib G, so that it can be readily withdrawn from the draw-head.

From the foregoing description, taken in II I I I I fli I connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a very simple car-coupling, by which a very strong coupling of the cars will be eii'ected, and the operation and advantages of the same are thought to be obvious. hen it is desired to eifect a coupling, the lever is drawn out so that the middle notch O therein will engage the bracket A, and the link is then inserted into the draw-head, so that its inner end will engage the rib on the bottom of the draw head, after which the lever is pushed inward, so that the outer notch will engage the bracket A. \Vhen the lever is pushed inward, the sliding frame will be pushed across the end of the link, and thereby secure the link in the draw-head. The two draw-heads are then brought together and the link thus caused to enter the opposing draw-head and the coupling completed. When it is desired to uncouple the cars, the lever is drawn outward, thereby drawing the sliding frame from the draw-head and causing the inclined surface N to act on the liltingplate, so as to raise the same and thereby disengage the couplinglink from the rib on the bottom of the drawhead, as hereinbefore stated.

My improved coupling is composed of few parts, which are simple in their construction and efficient in their operation. The working parts are all inclosed, so as to be protected against breakage or other injury, and can be operated from the side of the car, so that it is not necessary for the brakeman to go between the cars, and consequently endanger life.

The coupling can be arranged so that the device can be applied to a passenger-car by arranging a horizontal lever on the under side of the platform and properly connecting it with the notched lever, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination, with the draw-head and the bracket A, of the transverse sliding frame adapted to hold the link in the drawhead, the lever pivoted to said sliding frame and provided with notches in its edge adapted to engage the said bracket, and the spring bearing on the said lever to hold the notches in engagement with the bracket, as set forth.

2. The combination, with the draw-head having the longitudinal rib on its floor, of the link adapted to engage said rib, and the sliding frame passing transversely through the draw-head and adapted to hold the link in engagement with said rib, as set forth.

The combination of the draw-head hav ing the rib G, the link adapted to engage said rib, the lifting-plate arranged longitudinally in the drawhead in rear of said rib, and the sliding frame having its upper arm adapted to pass over the end of the link and its lower arm adapted to raise the liftingplate to release the link, as set forth.

4. The combination, with the draw-head having the lateral extension M and the rib G, of the link adapted to engage said rib, the lifting-plate arranged in the draw-head in rear of said rib, and the sliding frame moving in the extension M and having its upper arm adapted to enter the draw-head and its lower arm provided with an inclined surface N, adapted to act on the lifting-plate, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto a'lii xed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMPSON SANDERS MclillANI).

Vitncsses:

PETER F. HUNTER, Wnnn HARTEAM. 

